rogers



No. 623,830. Patented Apr. 25, I899.

A. H. ROGERS & H. W. PATRICK.

BACK FORK END FOR CYCLES.

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No. 623,830. Patented Apr. 25, I899. A. H. ROGERS &. H. W. PATRICK.

BACK FORK END FOB CYCLES.

(Application filed Oct. 17, 1895.) (No Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet 2.

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ARTHUR IIOUGI-ITON ROGERS AND HENRY WVILLIAM PATRICK, OF BIRMINGHAM, ENGLAND.

BACK-FORK END FOR CYCLES.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 623,830, dated April 25, 1899.

Application filed October 17, 1898.

T0 to whom it may concern:

Be it known that we, ARTHUR IIOUGHTON ROGERS and HENRY WILLIAM PATRICK, subjects of the Queen of Great Britain, residing at 58 Ludgate Hill,']3ir1ningham,in the county of WVarwick, England, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Back-Fork Ends for Cycles, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to the back-fork ends of a cycle-frame in which horizontal slots are formed for the reception, traverse, and connection of the ends of the spindle or axis of the rear wheel.

According to this invention the slotted back-fork ends are constructed and fitted in such a manner and so arranged in conjunction with the ends of the rear-wheels spindle and certain parts of the chain-adjustingmechanism that the said wheel can be put in and taken out with the greatest ease and speed and the tire bodily removed and taken away from the wheel without the latter being taken out of thecycles framing.

In the annexed sheets of drawings the improvements according to this invention are shown as applied to the back-fork ends of an ordinary diamond frame and to well-known chain-adjusting elements.

In the said sheets an outer side elevation is shown in Figure l; a horizontal section of the one side only in Fig. 2; an end elevation of one side only in Fig. 3; a vertical section of Figs. 1 and 3 in Fig. 4, taken partly upon the line F, Fig. 1; a similar side elevation as Fig. 1 in Fig. 5, but with the parts comprising this invention in a different position; an end elevation in Fig. 6, showing both fork ends with the rear-wheel hub in position between them and dropped on the one side; and in Figs. 7 and 8, detail views of the principal parts.

In the said figures, a are the horizontal and a the vertical members of the back fork a, and a are the latters' slotted ends. These slotted ends are identical in their construction and fitting, and each comprises a rigid top branch or jaw c and a jointed or hinged lower jaw 01, the latter being hinged to the former, so as to leave a space ebetween them to constitute the usual horizontal slot for the Serial No. 693,776. (No model.)

engagement of the back-wheels axis ends. The inner end 01- of the lower jaw is attached to the lower inner part c of the top branch by a joint-pin. 6 so that the said jaw when disconnected therefrom can swing away in an outwardly and downwardly direction, as indicated by Fig. 5 and the left-hand side of Fig. 6. This swinging away admits of the slot 6 being opened both longitudinally and vertically. The said lower jaw is prevented from moving upwardly and inwardly by a stop-shoulder (1 formed on its inner extremity coming against .the inner back edge e of the slot (2 as an abutment, so that ordinarily, as in Figs. 1 and 3, the rigid top member a is stayed from any upward strain by being connected to the hinged jaw. The outer end 61 of the hinged jaw is constructed with abifurcated post or lug d, and the outer end 0 of the top rigid branch is formed with a depending lip or projection 0 the said post or lug and lip or projection engaging and fitting one over and within the other and being connected by a cross-pin c which takes through cross-holes d c in the parts and which is fitted with an affixing-nut. The bifurcated lug and the lip or projection are formed with semicircular seatings d 0 which come together when the parts c engage and form a guide-hole and bearing for the shank 71 of the draw-bolt h. The said bolt, which is the element for taking up the slack of the drive-chain, is of the ordinary construction and its eyed end 71. engages the end of the axis or spindle 2' of the back wheel, so as to govern its sliding movement in the slot 6 in the ordinary manner, while its outer screwed end is fitted With a pulling-up nut H; but it is so connected to the slotted fork end a that immediately the hinged jaw 01 is disconnected and swung away from the rigid branch at it is free from the said fork end and can be taken away upon the end of the axis '6 and without removing its screwed nut h, or if the wheel is not required to be taken out, but its axis to be only dropped on the one side, as for taking off a tire, it can be hinged down with the jaw d in the way shown in Figs. 5 and 6. The manner in which the seatings d c of the parts d 0 come together and form a bearing for the shank of the draw-bolt and also an abutment for the working of its nut 70 is clearly shown in Fig. 3 and on the righthand side of Fig. (3.

It will be obvious from Figs. 5 and (3 how easy a matter it is to remove the tire without bodily taking out the wheel. The affixmentnuts on both ends of the back-wheel axis are loosened, but the hinged jaw (Z is dropped only upon the one side, which opens the slot a longitudinally and allows the axis end on that side to leave the slot sufficient to admit of the passage of the tire.

If the rear wheel is required to be bodily removed from the back-fork ends, the hinged jaws upon both sides of the back fork are disconnected from the rigid branches and swung down, and the frame is either lifted bodily from the wheel or the said wheel is allowed to drop away out of the opened slots of the fork ends.

The usefulness and ad vantages of this easy method of putting in and taking out of the rear wheel will be easily appreciated by cycle manufacturers and finishers and by cycle dealers who buy component parts and fit them together themselves; also will the advantages be appreciated by those who buy cycles without tires, as the fitting of the latter to the rear wheel is made much more easy, and this without taking out the rear wheel.

Having now described our invention, what we claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patcnt, is

1. In cycles, the combination with the horizontal and vertical members of the back fork with a longitudinal slot in thehorizontal member, of a portion hinged to the rear end of the horizontal member, and carrying means for holding an axle in said slot a bifurcated post on the rear end of the hinged portion and a depending lip on the rear end of the rigid portion of the horizontal member to be engaged by said bifurcated post, as and for the purpose specified.

2. In cycles, the combination with the vertieal member of the rear fork, and the horizontal member thereof having longitudinal slot, of the jaw hinged at its forward end to the horizontal member for permitting removal of the axle and having stop-shoulder at its inner end, a bifurcated post carried by the rear end of said jaw, a depending lip on the rear end of the upper portion of the horizontal member, and a removable fastening for securing the bifurcated post to said lip after the latter has been embraced by the said post, substantially as described.

3. In cycles, the combination with the vertical and horizontal members of the rear fork the latter member having alongitudinal slot, of a jaw hinged to the lower member a bifurcated post on the rear end of said jaw, a depending lip on the upper portion of the horizontal member to be engaged by said post,

removable fastening for said post and lip, and a draw-bolt and adjusting devices carried by the said jaw, all substantially as and for the purpose specified.

In testimony whereof we have signed our names to this specification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

ARTHUR IIOUGIITON ROGERS.

HENRY WILLIAM PATRICK. Witnesses:

GEO. TUERY,

A. F. BIDDLE. 

